This weekend in the wide world of soccer ends with more gold headed to Madrid, more goals for the “Egyptian Messi,” more accolades for the new record man in Napoli, and more and more praise for Bayern’s emergency goalkeeper.
Real Madrid, Mohamed Salah, Marek Hamsik, Sven Ulerich, and much more in this weekend’s edition of 90 Minutes’ Top Five.
1. Gold galore
With such a stellar trophy case, it’s difficult for Real Madrid to set new records.
Yet in 2017, they managed to do so.
The Merengues beat Gremio in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, earning their fifth title in 2017, something never accomplished before in their gold-filled history. Real will finish this year with its first La Liga title in five years, its second-consecutive UEFA Champions League against Juventus, the Spanish Super Cup in dominant fashion against Barcelona, the UEFA Super Cup over Manchester United, and now the FIFA Club World Cup. With the victory over Gremio on Saturday, Real also became the club with the most World Cups with six, counting the old Intercontinental Cup along with the current FIFA version of the trophy, and the first to retain the title since Sao Paulo in 1993. Consistency and knack for the big time have been the key to winning so much, even at times when the level of play isn’t quite up to standards. Having an all-time great like Cristiano Ronaldo, who broke yet another record by becoming the all-time leading scorer in Club World Cup history, doesn’t hurt either.
2017 will be forever lore in Real Madrid lore for all that gold. Judging by how things are going so far in La Liga, it’ll be quite the uphill battle to match this year’s performance.
Real Madrid defeated Gremio 1-0 to lift the FIFA Club World Cup for the third time in their history. / AFP PHOTO / KARIM SAHIB (Photo credit should read KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images)
2. Mohamed, king of Liverpool
In a season that saw players like Romelu Lukaku, Alvaro Morata, Alexander Lacazette transfer to new clubs for nine-figure fees, no transfer has been better so far than Mohamed Salah’s to Liverpool.
The Egyptian winger arrived in Anfield this past summer in a deal that could cost the Reds up to 50 million euros. Judging by the ungodly amounts paid for other players in England and Europe, this investment is looking more and more like a huge bargain. Salah scored the third of Liverpool’s four goals in their thrashing of Bournemouth Sunday, reaching 20 goals for the season in all competitions. On December 17, Salah has already surpassed his single-season mark of 19 from the 2016-2017 season at Roma. But isn’t just setting personal marks. Salah is the leading scorer in the Premier League, surpassing names like Kane, Aguero, Lukaku, Morata, Lacazette, and Jesus. And in terms of club numbers, Salah is the first Red player to reach 20 goals by Christmas since Ian Rush, a mark that Liverpool greats like Fernando Torres, Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, and Luis Suarez never accomplished. It’s amazing to think that Salah had his doubters when he arrived, based on his short, uneventful stint at Chelsea and his hypothetical role in a team with an already-established front line of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane.
Say what you will about the other issues plaguing Liverpool this season. Bringing Mo Salah to Anfield was an absolute winning move.
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3. Maradona, meet Hamsik
In soccer terms, being accompanied by Diego Maradona is never a bad thing.
Marek Hamsik can now claim his place alongside the all-time legend after Saturday.
Hamsik scored Napoli’s third goal in Napoli’s road victory over Torino, taking his goal count to 115, and putting him at the top of Napoli’s all-time scoring list along with Maradona. Thinking of someone near or at the level of Maradona in Napoli history was always unfathomable, if not blasphemous. But taking into account Hamsik’s time at the San Paolo, how can you not? The Slovak is in the middle of his tenth season with Napoli. Think about that fact in today’s soccer environment, where players at Hamsik’s level and better rarely have prolonged tenures with a single team any more, specially a not-quite-world-class club like Napoli. Hamsik could have easily left the San Paolo many times over these past ten years; the interest and the temptation has been there all along. Instead, he has chosen to stay and become the captain, leader, and symbol of the modern Napoli. He has helped the Neapolitan side go from newly-promoted in 2007 to a two-time Coppa Italia champions, top five mainstay club in Serie A.
Hamsik has already carved himself a place with the all-time great in Napoli history, even the legendary Maradona himself.
4. Sven the man
Remember when Manuel Neuer was Bayern Munich’s goalkeeper?
It’s been a long while since those days. But luckily for Bayern fans, Neuer’s presence hasn’t been missed much thanks to backup Sven Ulreich. The 29-year-old is enjoying his busiest season in Munich, and is rising to the expectations of the Bundesliga leaders. Ulreich has appeared in 20 matches this season, the most by far since his last season at Stuttgart -the club where he developed and established himself professionally- averaging just under a goal allowed per game, and keeping six clean sheets, and helping Bayern allow the least amount of goals in Bundesliga by a long shot. His crowning moment, however, came Saturday. Bayern gave up a penalty kick in the last minute of stoppage time with only a 1-0 lead. Chadrac Akolo stepped up with a chance to draw the league leaders, but Ulreich heroically saved his shot and secured another three points for Jupp Heynckes’ side.
Ulreich’s side couldn’t have been more poetic, either. The team he prevented from earning a much-needed point?
Stuttgart.
5. No-doubter volley
Mesut Ozil’s present and future has been debated and rumored about all season due to his expiring contract and refusal to renew at Arsenal. What’s not in doubt is this weekend’s Goal of the Weekend. A perfect volley off a rebound that earned Arsenal a narrow victory over Newcastle, authored by the skillful playmaker who may or may not be in London much longer.